Defense council OKs plans to streamline

Members of the Defense Department's Business Initiative Council have signed off on more initiatives they hope will streamline DOD business operations and improve support to warfighters.

One initiative would shift some military functions to the private sector. Another would simplify access at Defense installations by requiring only Common Access Cards.

And a third initiative lets Defense officials bypass congressional approval before ordering additional products and services for major procurements.

'Obtaining prior approval is a time-consuming process,' the council reported from its May 31 meeting. 'This initiative would allow DOD to purchase the increased quantities without prior approval, provided, of course, that a valid requirement exists for the higher quantities.'

The council, initiated by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, was established last July by Pete Aldridge, undersecretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. This was the fifth round of initiatives passed by the council, which is made up of the military service secretaries and the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.